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“I need to know what you know.” Clementine’s voice was all business, but when Harris turned back to her, the sharpness in her eyes had lifted. “All of it. Even the parts you don’t want to tell me.”

Harris stood, but couldn’t put David at her back. She needed to know he was still there with her, at least in some capacity. “Two nights ago, we were grabbing a beer when he got a phone call from a witness who wanted to turn on Aguilar.”

“Francisco Aguilar?” Clementine’s eyebrows pinched together. “Why?”

“David said it was because the guy had a kid on the way. He didn’t want to be part of it anymore—the drugs, the murders, none of it. He wanted out, and he wanted protection for him and his family.”

“And you guys believed that?”

“David did.” Harris blew out a breath, and it ruffled the hair around her face. “But I think it was more than that. The witness must’ve said something else because David looked scared. He told me the other guy said Aguilar had people in the department doing his dirty work for him. People you wouldn’t suspect.”

Clementine narrowed her eyes. “You never want to hear something like that.”

“David didn’t seem surprised. More resigned. He didn’t want me involved, but I insisted. He’d already told me too much. He couldn’t get rid of me that easily.”

Clementine glanced at David’s body and then back up at Harris. “So why aren’t you lying next to him?”

“The witness wanted him to come alone. I wouldn’t let him.” She ground her teeth. “He gave me an address, told me to show up ten minutes after he did. I was to stay close but not intervene. We needed this guy to take down Aguilar and whoever he had in the department. We couldn’t risk spooking him.”

“I’m guessing he didn’t give you this address?”

“He sent me across town. By the time I figured it out, he had already turned his cell off. I drove around for a while, but I had no idea where they were meeting. Eventually, I went home.”

“There’s nothing you could’ve done, Adelaide.” Clementine put a hand on Harris’ shoulder and forced the detective to meet her gaze. “I mean it. This was David’s choice. Don’t bear the responsibility of decisions he knew could have this outcome. He probably saved your life.”

“Did he know?” Harris looked down at David, and for the first time that morning, she felt a well of emotion creep up her throat. “Did he know he was going to die?”

“Only one other person might know the answer.” Clementine gave her a pointed look. “Are you going to call her, or do you want me to?”

“I’ll do it.” Harris wondered if Cassie already knew. Had David visited her? Had he told her exactly what happened? Would Cassie blame Harris for not being with him? “But I have to figure out what to say first.”

“If you’re looking for the right words for a situation like this”—Clementine returned her gaze to David–“you’ll be looking for a long time.”

“What about you?” Harris asked. “What are you going to say to the others?”

“Only what they need to know. If we have a rat, we need to flood the ship.”

Clementine waved the other officers back inside. Harris stepped back under the caution tape, walked down the stairs, and moved off to the side of the loading docks. A small crowd had gathered on the far end, but three police officers kept them at bay. Harris drew a deep breath and blocked them all out.

As she pulled out her phone, her stomach twisted. She hadn’t known Cassie for long, but they had forged their friendship in the heat of battle. She was the one person outside David’s family who would understand what Harris was feeling right now, and it was her job to deliver the killing blow.

Before she could lose her nerve, Harris dialed Cassie’s number.

“Hey.” Cassie sniffled. “What’s up?”

“Cassie.” Harris’ voice sounded unnatural, even to her ears. It was too full of emotion, too full of heartbreak. “Am I interrupting?”

“No.” Cassie sobered instantly. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t really know how to say this.” She was losing it. “It doesn’t feel real.”

“Adelaide. What happened?”

“It’s David.” Harris’ voice shook, despite her best efforts to stay calm for her friend. “He’s dead.”

2

If Cassie Quinn ever thought there was a limit to how much one person could cry, today had proven her wrong. Her throat was raw, her nose was red, her cheeks were puffy, and yet tears continued to stream down her face with great abandon.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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